The force has adopted the radical tactic in an effort to discourage time-wasting “emergency” calls.

One caller dialled 999 to report his wife for failing to leave him any food to eat. Another rang to complain that the poor bus service in his area left him with sore feet from having to walk.

A woman who wanted to report an injured pigeon, a stranded man hoping for a lift home and a college student asking police if they knew when the internet was invented were among the other nuisance 999 tapes posted on the web.

Hoax callers can face up to six months in jail, a £5,000 fine and can even have their mobile phones disconnected.